The Republicans who were Abolisionists are not the same Republicans today. The Republican party leadership today is headed by Rush Limbaugh. A hateful drug addict who is a drop out from college and society. The new face of the KKK. These leaders are lying to the American people every time they open their mouths. It should be a felony offense for public officials to mislead the public and know they are lying!
They have hurt the recovery by opposing ant act by this White House to get the middle class off the economic mate. These just say no politicians should be held on treason and considered in patriotic. They would rather see America crumble than support any act this President proposes to help move this Country forward! The choice for me as a black man in America is to move forward with the Democrtaic Party.

WEB DuBois is shaking his head in his grave; whoever would have dreamed that the problem of THIS century would still be the Color Line and added to it the Wealth Ceiling. This century's Republican Party (and some Democrats) are trying to destroy the working class in the United States so that the wealthy (Trump, the Bushes, etc) will have all the power. How sad that young "Black" people are on the same bandwagon.

Great comments! I think that only a small number of young Blacks actually listen when Republicans say they are the "True Anti-Slavery Party." It is so rare to hear of our Black History, that our ears perk up when some of our history is being presented. Instead of using our early political history to pit us against the 1st Black President, they probably would be better served to use the history to attract more young people into politics to help shape President Obama's agenda.

I was a long time Republican and I thought I was supporting the party that was opposed to slavery, but the more I listened to the opposing point of view, the more I was forced to search for the truth. President Lincoln did free the slaves in the Southern States. Never mind that the Southern States had already left the Union and formed their own Confederacy. Lincoln had no real authority to enact change upon States outside of the Union. And then there is the matter of the slaves in the Northern States that were not freed. But, Democrats should not be so quick to judge young Republicans. It was Democratic Governor George Wallace of Alabama who famously proclaimed "... segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever". And more Republicans voted for the Civil Rights Act than Democrats.
The fact is, neither party is a reflection today of what they where long ago; not even 50 years ago. To claim allegiance to a political party based on past performances is no way to vote. To simply say 'I am with this party and I will vote with this party' is paramount to buying a product simply because everyone you know buys the same product. If everyone else jumps from the bridge.... you get the point. Independents, such as myself, as growing in number because political parties are no longer the answer. Politicians are attending the parties and the individual voter is left out side wondering where their invitation is. You want my vote, earn it. I'll throw my own party.

Unity remains illusive for those who espouse "Our history."

The KKK talked about their history. What is the difference today?

That rhetoric is meant to divide, to make one person different from another person based only on their skin color.

Obama is half white...so much for being the uniter in chief.

Racists come in all the colors.